Now Commenting On:

Frasor readies for Rangers debut Saturday

Email

Print

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers have held back on using Jason Frasor so far this spring, but that will change Saturday, when the right-handed reliever is scheduled to make his spring debut against Arizona at 2:10 p.m. CT.

But the lack of innings thus far hasn't bothered the 35-year-old Frasor.

"My ERA's not going up," he joked.

All kidding aside, there's no need for the Rangers to rush the veteran Frasor into action. With an extended camp this spring -- thanks to the World Baseball Classic -- and Frasor's experience in preparing for a season, the Rangers decided to hold him back in the early spring.

"We've got a long spring," manager Ron Washington said. "We certainly don't need to be throwing Frasor out there right away. We'll set it up where he'll get his innings by the time we get out of here."

Frasor, who signed with the club in the offseason after pitching almost his entire career for Toronto, said he really only needs seven or eight appearances before he feels ready for the season.

Eventually, he figures to be a vital cog in a restructured bullpen that saw the departures of Mike Adams, Koji Uehara, Scott Feldman and Mark Lowe. For now, Frasor is content to "sit in the 'pen and chew bubble gum."

"Let these young guys battle it out," Frasor said. "Let these young guys show them what they can do. It's not odd. I know my time will come."